An Inspirational + Lifestyle Blog

Recommendations – Tools for Life

We thought it might be helpful to create a recommended resources page of all the products, tools and services we have mentioned throughout this site. These are all resources that one of us have personally used or thoroughly researched. Only those tools/services that we fully recommended will be listed here. This is a living, single-source page you can continually return to as it’ll be updated often. These products, tools and services are listed because they will either inspire you, relieve some of sort of burden from your shoulders, increase your creativity and/or help your blogging career.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we might earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase. Please understand that we have experience with all of these companies in one way or another, and recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we might make if you decide to buy something. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.

Recommended Blog Resources

For cheap web hosting and domain registration, I highly recommend Bluehost. This service is currently powering the blog you’re reading. They make it easy to start your own WordPress blog with just a click of your button. Click the logo to start your blog today!

An affordable online photo editing tool. Quickly and easily create beautifully curated images for your blogs or social media platforms. It’s the best online photo editing tool I have found out there so far and highly recommend this if you aren’t a graphic designer. Click the logo for your free trial now!

Fonts.com has an incredibly large selection of fonts. I’ll admit I’m a font addict and this site can become dangerous for my bank account! They have desktop and web fonts of almost all their selections. They have subscriptions you can sign up for, too. Oh, and they have a fun wizard on their site to help you identify a font you’re looking for! You can click the logo to temporarily satisfy your font addition, or you could save your bank account and stay away from this one, ha!

A female network of female bloggers. They have a whole library of eBooks and resources to help you learn how to turn your blog into a profitable business. When you sign up for your free account, you’ll receive a free 200+ page binder to help you build a business plan for your blog. I printed mine out and put into a 3-ring binder! I highly recommend this resource if you’re interested in growing your blog. Click the logo to find out more.

One of the best affiliate programs out there! No need to apply to all the various companies and stores you adore and wish to advertise for. Just create an account with VigLink and automatically be connected to most affiliate programs at the best money-making tier! There are some companies that might have to apply for, but I have yet to find one. Use Amazon (as long as you’re not in one of their banned states), Wal-Mart, Best Buy, PetSmart and so many more with one account and at the best tiers. Plus, with their built-in script it’ll automatically update your links real-time to the best market price of the item linked. Or, better yet, it’ll automatically link key items it finds in your page that you forgot to link. Brilliant! Click that logo now and save making some moolah!

Bloggers, find sponsored ads for your posts, website and social media accounts easily with SponsoredTweets by IZEA. Submit your accounts and receive offers from companies or apply for bids. It’s easy and free to sign up. So, click that logo and find sponsors.

Another good resource to use to connect you to sponsors! This company matches sponsors with bloggers that seem like a good fit. Sponsors can also find you and reach out to you. Another great way to turn your monetize your blog. Click the logo to sign up.

This tool is a must-have for every blogger! Schedule your blog posts and your social media shares. It groups your social media shares with the blog post to effectively schedule your social media according to your blogging schedule. Superb! Click the logo to start your free trial.

One of the largest affiliate networks on the web. It’s probably one of the oldest, too. I remember this company from the early days of when I was building websites (and remember, I’m old!). There are a vast amount of well-known companies on here you can sign up as affiliates for. Just some quick examples, PetSmart, H&R Block and more.

This is another popular affiliate network. I also remember them from the golden days. This one you can also earn affiliate commissions just from referring people to sign up to the affiliate network. You’ll find more big-named companies on here like Shutterfly. Click the logo to start your earning potential!

Recommended Marketing Tools Resources

This is another pin scheduler. I’m testing this one out. But so far, it seems really promising and I might be switching over to this one. It’ll auto schedule your pins, optimize your Pinterest boards and run analytics. Find the best times to pin, manage your collaboration board to better optimize them and easily clean up your boards. It’s not free, but if you click the logo above you’ll get your first 100 pins absolutely free!

Schedule your posts for Instagram easily. This tool is web-based with a mobile app for iPhone and Android. It makes it easy to schedule your posts. When it’s time to post it’ll automatically give you a push notification. When you open the notification, it opens your Instagram app with your photo and text all pre-filled for you to hit submit. You can still apply filters and edit your photos within the Instagram app before posting. Plus, you get 30 free posts a month by clicking on the logo above!

When it comes to a building and managing an email list, I highly recommend MailChimp. It’s free (although they do have a paid version for more amazing features!) and incredibly simple to use. Plus with the MailMunch WordPress plugin, it’s easy to integrate a sign up form on your blog. Click the logo above to get your free email list set up.

Recommended Inspirational Shopping Resources

I love DaySpring! I use their lyric cards in every single one of my orders at Farrally Paperie, LLC. They have beautiful home decor that I find very inspiring. My family uses their greeting cards and for Christmas I can always find great gifts for everyone! I recommend you check them out.

Pretty much similar stuff to the above store, but you can find their brick-and-mortar stores around your local city usually. I love buying my faith-based books and movies from here. Find a great selection of Bibles and study materials. If you’re a church leader or hosting a study group, they have classroom materials for all ages. They also have some pretty amazing wall art pieces to check out.

Recommended Financial Resources

To manage my personal tax returns as well as filing my business tax returns, I always trust H&R Block. It’s affordable, you have your own tax advisor to help you with any questions, provide guidance and even review your return before submitting. My tax advisor has always helped me find more money! You could qualify to have your taxes completed online for FREE! Click the logo to find out more. If you’re a business, click here to get 15% off the software.

Recommended Money-Saving Resources

A great, easy way to earn cash back from shopping online! Shop just like you normally do and earn today. Just click the logo, create an account, find your favorite store and begin shopping. It’s that easy! As an added bonus, sign up here now and receive a free $10 gift card to either Wal-Mart, Macy’s, Target or Kohl’s.

Recommended Parenting/Family Resources

If you have children, Gerber Life Insurance is a must! Start your kids off right and safely. The monthly premium is incredibly low and the best part is that it doubles when they turn 18! It grows with your child. Give them adult-size insurance at baby-sized premiums by clicking on the logo!

Hello, Lovelies! I'm proud to say that I'm a follower of Christ, a mother of two and an always improving wife to the most wonderful stay-at-home daddy. I struggle on a regular basis to find the positives that are sometimes masked by negatives. Join my journey as I learn to find the inspiration in this crazy thing called life.

Hello everyone! I'm a stay at home mom to two sets of twins, and even though everyone says to enjoy it when they're young, I go back on forth on wishing they would get older and longing for them to be babies again. Sometimes I need to slow down and just enjoy the moment. Thanks for joining me on this journey, and I look forward to sharing my outlook and excerpts on life with 4 under 5.